Three women go to trial today over the allegations, including the story of one alleged victim who went on TV anonymously and told what happened when he took a ride from three women in the capital of Harare. They injected him “with something that gave me a strong sexual desire,” he said, forced him into sex with each of the women, using condoms, and left him naked in the bush. He was taken to the hospital still under the effect of the sexually stimulating drug.

“The women due in court have been charged on 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault— as Zimbabwean law does not recognise the act of a woman raping a man,” the BBC reports. Police found 31 used condoms in the car the women were in; the women denied the charges, saying they were prostitutes and had not disposed of the condoms.

The police have gotten reports of this happening on highways across the country. There is speculation that the semen collection is linked to rituals, for example, to bring business success.

Cultural commentator Claude Mararikel said that such ritual bordered on “secret societies,” and that “Even researchers don't want to go into that area because you may not come out alive to publish whatever you find out.”